Magnetic type game

ABSTRACT

A magnetic type game simulating sports action wherein a generally horizontal, elevated playing surface is provided with a generally horizontal transparent cover disposed in spaced relationship above the playing surface. A plurality of playing pieces are disposed for movement transversely over the playing surface beneath the cover, some of the playing pieces having magnetic portions on the tops thereof representing a first team of simulated players and another set of playing pieces having magnetic portions on the bottoms thereof representing a second team of simulated players. Manipulatable members are provided for each actual player of the game for positioning either beneath the playing surface or above the cover, depending on which team of simulated players he is to manipulate, each manipulatable member having a magnetic portion which attracts the magnetic portions of the playing pieces to move a chosen one of the playing pieces over the playing surface in response to movement of a player&#39;&#39;s manipulatable member.

nited States Patent Morrison et al.

1 1 MAGNETIC TYPE GAME [75] Inventors: Howard J. Morrison, Deerfield;

Robert K. Allen, Frankfort, both of Ill.

[73] Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates I [22] Filed: June 23, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 265,632

[52] US. Cl 273/85 F, 273/85 A, 273/1 M, 46/240 [51] Int. Cl A63f 7/06, A63f 9/14 [58] Field of Search 273/85, 94, l M, 86 B, 273/90, 108, 118 A, 126 A; 63/29 M;

[111 3,827,692 Aug. 6, 1974 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Coleco Catalog, Coleco Industries, Hartford, Conn., pages 4, 5 & 6, March 1970.

Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Harry G. Strappello Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Coffee & Sweeney 5 7] ABSTRACT A magnetic type game simulating sports action wherein a generally horizontal, elevated playing surface is provided with a generally horizontal transparent cover disposed in spaced relationship above the playing surface. A plurality of playing pieces are disposed for movement transversely over the playing surface beneath the cover, some of the playing pieces having magnetic portions on the tops thereof representing a first team of simulated players and another set of playing pieces having magnetic portions on the bottoms thereof representing a second team of simulated players. Manipulatable members are provided for each actual player of the game for positioning either beneath the playing surface or above the cover, depending on which team of simulated players he is to manipulate, each manipulatable member having a magnetic portion which attracts the magnetic portions of the playing pieces to move a chosen one of the playing pieces over the playing surface in response to movement of a'players manipulatable member.

20 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PAIENTEU AUG 5 4 SHEEI 2 BF 2 MAGNETIC TYPE GAME This invention relates generally to games, and more particularly to a magnetic game simulating the sports action of hockey, soccer, football, basketball or the like.

Magnetic games have been known for some time wherein playing pieces, figures, or other means are moved by manipulatable members or by remote con trol over playing surfaces or along designated paths, or the like, under the force of magnetic attraction or repulsion between the playing pieces or figures and the manipulatable members. Many such games are designed to simulate sports action such as hockey, soccer, or other similar sports events. Certain of such games may be seen with reference to the following known patents:

Kovac 2,65 l l 40 Munro 2,903,264 LcBrun 2,964,320 Knot! 3,045,393 Shaw 3,532,341 Grabowski 3,554,549

The present invention is directed to providing a new and improved magnetictype game of the character described.

The principal object, therefore, of the present invention, is to provide a new and improved magnetic game of the character described, particularly simulating sports action such as hockey, soccer, or like sports events.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, a magnetic hockey type game, or the like, is shown. A box-like base structure defines a generally horizontal rectangular elevated playing surface, with side wall means bounding the playing surface, and a transparent generally planar cover on top of the side wall means spaced from and overlying the playing surface generally parallel thereto. A pair of opposing goals are provided at opposite ends of the playing surface and a disc shaped simulated hockey puck is freely movable over the playing surface beneath the transparent cover. A plurality of playing pieces are disposed for movement transversely over the playing surface beneath the transparent cover, the playing pieces representing first and second opposing teams of simulated players. The first team of playing pieces each has a magnetic portion on the top thereof adjacent the underside of the transparent cover and the second team of playing pieces each has a magnetic portion on the bottom thereof above the playing surface. At least one manipulatable member is provided for each actual player of the game, the manipulatable members having magnetic portions which attract the magnetic portions of the playing pieces depending on whether the manipulatable members are positioned on and moved over the top of the transparent cover or positioned beneath and moved along the underside of the playing surface.

. With the structure described immediately above, one actual player of the game may move a chosen one of the first team of playing pieces by positioning and moving a manipulatable member over the cover on top of the chosen playing piece, and another actual player of the game may move a chosen one of the second team of playing pieces by positioning and moving his manipulatable member beneath the elevated playing surface below the chosen one of the second team of playing pieces, as the players attempt to engage and propel the simulated puck into the opposing players goal.

Two or more manipulatable members may be provided for each actual player of the game so that he may move more than one playing piece by his hands to pass the puck back and forth in an attempt to score a goal.

In the embodiment of the invention shown herein, playing pieces in the form of referees are provided, with magnetic portions both on the tops and bottoms thereof for manipulation by either of the players of the game. In addition, penalty boxes are provided adjacent the playing area within which at least one of the playing pieces may be positioned to sit out his penalty and means are provided at each penalty box for selectively propelling a playing piece therefrom back onto the playing surface at the end of the penalty period. A timer is mounted on the base structure adjacent the playing area for timing a penalty period of a playing piece in a penalty box. Face-off circles are formed on the playing surface and a score and period counter is provided on the base structure.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the magnetic hockey game of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the magnetic hockey game of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section, partially broken away, taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial vertical section taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section taken the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a vertical section through the elevated playing surface and transparent cover, showing a pair of opposed playing pieces therebetween and a pair of manipulatable finger rings, with portions broken away to illustrate the magnetic portions of the playing pieces and finger rings;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a playing piece and one of the shields disposed between the playing surface and the transparent cover; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of one of the supporting ribs which holds the goal means in proper position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings in greater detail, a magnetic type game is shown wherein the base structure thereof, the playing pieces, manipulatable members, and other structural elements and/or features resemble a simulated hockey game. However, it is to be understood that the invention contemplates the utilization of the novel elevated playing surface, transparent cover, magnetic components, and related structural elements and/0r features for use in other sports action games such as soccer, football, basketball, baseball, or the like.

generally along Referring to the drawings in greater detail, a box like base structure, generally designated 10, defines a generally planar, horizontal rectangular playing surface 12 which is bounded by upstanding side walls 14 on top of which is disposed a transparent generally planar cover 16 which is maintained by the side walls 14 spaced from and overlying the playing surface 12 generally parallel thereto. The box-like base structure is elevated off of a supporting understructure, such as a table or the like, by means of angle shaped supports 18 which elevate the playing surface 12 sufficiently to permit an actual player of the game to place his hands and/or arms beneath the playing surface.

In order to simulate a hockey type game, upright goals 20 are disposed at opposite ends of the playing surface 12 between the playing surface and the transparent cover 16, the goals being maintained in position by a slotted complementarily shaped rib 22 which is shown in perspective in FIG. 8. Referring to FIG. 2, corner face-off circles 24a and a center face-off circle 24b are formed on the top of the playing surface 12. A disc shaped simulated hockey puck 25 is provided for movement over the playing surface. Although not shown in the drawings, the usual red-line and blue lines" of an actual hockey rink may also be formed on the top of the playing surface. The playing surface preferably is fabricated of translucent material to give the affect of actual ice.

As best seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 6 and 7, a plurality of playing pieces 26a and 26b are disposed for movement transversely over the playing surface 12 beneath the transparent cover 16. The playing pieces are generally upright cylindrical members representing first and second opposing teams of simulated players 26a, 2612, respectively. More particularly, a first team of simulated players is provided by a first set of playing pieces, comprising the playing pieces 26a, each having a magnetic portion 28 on the top thereof disposed adjacent the underside of the transparent cover 16. A second team of simulated players is provided by a second set of playing pieces, comprising the playing pieces 26!), each of which has a magnetic portion 30 on the bottom thereof above the playing surface 12.

As seen best in FIGS. 1 and 6, a plurality of manipulatable members in the form of finger rings 32 are provided with magnetic portions 34 seated in a cup support 36 mounted on the rings. The magnetic portions 34 of the finger rings 32 attract the magnetic portions 28 and 30 of the playing pieces 26a and 26b, respectively. At least one manipulatable finger ring 32 is provided for each actual player of the game. However, in order to facilitate tossing the puck 25 from one playing piece to another in an attempt to propel the puck into the opposing player's goal 20, at least two manipulatable finger rings should be provided, one for each hand of each player of the game.

With the above described basic structure, it is apparent that one actual player of the game may move chosen ones of the first team of playing pieces 26a by positioning a finger ring 32 on top of a playing piece 26a, as shown in FIG. 6, with the magnetic portions 28 and 34 of the playing piece and finger ring, respectively, attracting each other, and then moving the manipulatable finger ring over the top of the transparent cover 16. An opposing player of the game, likewise, can move chosen ones of the second team of playing pieces 26b by positioning a manipulatable finger ring 32 beneath the playing surface 12 below one of the playing pieces 26b, with the magnetic portions 30 and 34 of the playing piece and finger ring, respectively, in attraction, and then moving the manipulatable finger ring beneath the playing surface 12 in an attempt to propel the puck 25 into the opposing players goal as the opposing player attempts to stop the same by manipulating his playing pieces 26a.

Three additional playing pieces 38 are provided, similar to the playing pieces 26a, 2612, but with magnetic portions 40 disposed in both the tops and bottoms thereof. These playing pieces represent referees or umpires for the game and are movable by either player of the game by their manipulatable finger rings 32. The utilization of and/or play of the referee playing pieces will be described hereinafter.

Due to the fact that the playing pieces 26a, 26b are cylindrically shaped and the fact that the puck 25 also is circular in nature, sometimes it may be difficult to move the puck 25 off of the side walls 14 as a playing piece is moving the puck therealong. To facilitate propelling the puck off of the side walls 14, a plurality of inwardly protruding ramp-like cam members 42 are provided at selected positions along the side walls whereby the puck 25 may be cammed thereagainst whereupon the puck will be propelled back out into the center areas of the playing surface 12.

Also formed in the side walls 14 are a plurality of apertures 44, preferably at the opposite ends of the playing surface. These apertures 44 extend entirely through the side walls and are in communication with a recess 46 formed on the outside of the base structure 10. The apertures 44 are of a size sufficient to receive the puck 25 in position off of the playing surface 12, and an upstanding lip 48 on the outside of the base structure 10 prevents the puck from passing completely out of the apparatus. These apertures provide means for simulating a hockey player flipping a puck out of an actual hockey ring, particularly when he sees trouble approaching and desires to have a face-off. The apertures also would simulate a hockey player freezing the puck against the side walls of the playing surface which also would require a face-off at one of the face-off circles 24a. In order to return the puck 25 back onto the playing surface 12, a player simply inserts his finger into the exterior recess 46 and flips the puck back onto the playing surface.

Means in the form of recesses 50 are formed in the base structure 10 to simulate penalty boxes adjacent the playing surface 12, through the side walls 14, within which one of the playing pieces may be positioned. A hand manipulatable, pivotally mounted lever member 52 is disposed adjacent the opening to the penalty box recesses, the lever having an outer door portion 54 and an inner door portion 56 between which a playing piece 26a, 2612 may be positioned to serve out a penalty. In order to selectively propel the playing piece from the penalty box 50 back onto the playing surface 12, the lever 52 is pivoted in the direction of arrows A (FIG. 2) whereupon the inner door portion 56 will propel the playing piece back onto the playing surface. The outer door 54 forms a continuation of the side walls 14 in front of the penalty box recesses 50 in order not to fomi an interference with the contour of the side walls.

A timer and signal mechanism is provided between the penalty boxes 50 for timing a penalty period of a playing piece in a penalty box and to signal when the penalty period has expired. More particularly, a conventional timer mechanism, generally designated 57, is shown best in FIGS. 4 and 5. A spirally wound coil spring 58 is fixed to one gear 60 of a gear train, generally designated 62, which is in mesh with a star wheel 64. The rotation of the star wheel is limited or governed by an engaging oscillating governor leaf 66. A crank arm 68 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 4) is fixed to a shaft 70 secured for rotation with the gear 60 and coil spring 58. The crank arm 68 is exposed on top of the base structure for manipulation by players of the game to cock or wind the coil spring 58 whereupon release of the crank arm 68 permits the coil spring to wind down. Numbered indicia 72 (FIG. 2) may be provided on the base structure 10 adjacent the crank arm 68 to provide for increments of time depending on the duration of the penalty to be served by a particular players playing piece. The angular orientation of the crank arm 68 relative to the time indicia 72 determines the incremental amount of winding of the coil spring 58 and thus the duration of operation of the timer 57.

As stated above, signal means is provided to indicate to the players of the game when a penalty period has expired. More particularly, referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, a cam disc 74 is provided with a radially outwardly protruding cam finger 76, the cam disc 74 being fixed to the rotatable shaft 70 of the timer coil spring 58. A bell member 78 is fixed by a shaft 81 to the underside of the base structure 10. A leaf spring 80 is fixed by a boss 82 to the underside of the base structure and has an enlarged striking portion 84 for striking the bell 78 to render a signal. Thus, when the coil spring 58 of the timer 57 is cocked by means of rotating the crank arm 68, the cam disc 74 will be rotated therewith in the direction of arrow C (FIGS. 2 and 5). When the crank arm 68 is released, the coil spring will cause the cam disc 74 to rotate back in a direction opposite that of arrows C until the protruding cam finger 76 engages the outer end 80a of the leaf spring 80 to draw the leaf spring in the direction of arrow B (FIG. 2) until the leaf spring comes out of engagement with the cam finger 76 and is urged back to the position shown in FIG. 2 where it strikes the bell 78 to render a signal indicating the end of a penalty period.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, a score and period counting means is provided which includes three discs 86 rotatably mounted on the underside of the base structure 10 by means of pivot bosses 88. Apertures 90 are formed in the base structure through which players of the game may observe score indicia 91 formed on the top 92 (FIG. 3) of the rotatable score discs 86. Recesses 94 are formed in the edge of the base structure to provide access to the periphery of the score discs 86 to permit manual manipulation thereof. As seen best in FIG. 2, one disc may be utilized to indicate the home score, another disc may be utilized to indicate the visitor's score, and a third disc may be utilized to indicate the period of the game.

As seen best in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7, arcuately shaped shields 96 are provided behind which (or within which) two of the referee playing pieces 38 may be positioned.

Various rules for playing the game may be devised. With the exemplary embodiment of the invention simulating a hockey game, standard hockey rules generally may be applied. In other words, as seen in the drawings,

six playing pieces 26a, 26b are provided for each team. In FIG. 1, a playing piece 26a from the team thereof is shown in the penalty box. FIG. 2 shows a playing piece 26b from the team thereof in a penalty box. Of course, as shown both in FIGS. 1 and 2, one of the playing pieces from each team normally would be utilized as a goalie which is positioned in front of the goals 20. Three referee playing pieces 38 are employed, two pieces representing the linesmen which normally are positioned within the arcuate shields 96, and a faceoff referee which is utilized to propel the puck 25 into the center of a face-off circle 24a, 24b, as shown in FIG. 2. In addition to having face-offs after each goal is scored or when the puck is frozen in the apertures 44, various penalties may be devised. For instance, should one actual player of the game move his finger ring 32 and the magnetic portion 34 thereof too close to a referee playing piece 38, he might move that referee playing piece whereupon he could be assessed a penalty. A penalty also might be assessed should a playing piece 26a, 26b (other than a goalie playing piece) be moved by an actual player of the game into the goals 20. With the movement of the playing pieces being dependent upon the magnetic fields of the magnetic portions 28, 30 on the playing pieces and the magnetic portion 34 on the finger rings 32, considerable manual dexterity may be developed by children playing the game. In other words, should a child move his finger ring 32 too fast, he might overcome the magnetic attraction between the finger ring and his playing piece and overrun his playing piece.

Another rule for playing the game could be that the actual player of the game who scores a goal may operate the face-off referee during a face-off at the center face-off circle 24b. In doing so, that player would manipulate the face-off referee so as to strike the puck 25 and propel it into the center of the face-off circle 24b whereupon the center playing pieces (as seen in FIG. 2) would be manipulated by both players of the game in order to obtain possession of the puck. Croquet type maneuvers also may be employed where a player, utilizing a pair of finger rings, would cause one of his playing pieces to strike another of his own playing pieces and move that other playing piece into engagement with the puck for moving the same.

Of course, with other than hockey type games, other rules may be devised by utilizing the structure of the present invention.

It should be pointed out that the use of the terms magnetic portions 28, 30 and 34 on the playing pieces 26a, 26b and on the finger rings 32 is meant in its broadest sense. One or more of the portions may simply be metallic portions attracted by appropriate magnets in either the playing pieces or finger rings as long as sufficient attracting forces are present to enable the players of the game to properly move the playing pieces by the finger rings to propel the puck over the playing surface.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for cleamess of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom as some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

We claim: 1. A magnetic hockey type game comprising, in combination:

a box-like base structure defining an elevated generally planar playing surface, wall means bounding said playing surface, and a transparent generally planar cover on top of said wall means spaced from and overlying said playing surface generally parallel thereto;

means defining a pair of opposing goals on said playing surface;

means defining a disc-shaped simulated hockey puck freely movable over said playing surface;

a plurality of playing pieces disposed for movement transversely over said playing surface beneath said cover, the playing pieces representing first and second opposing teams of simulated players, the first team of playing pieces having magnetic portions on the tops thereof and the second team of playing pieces having magnetic portions on the bottoms thereof;

a plurality of manipulatable members at least one for each actual player of the game, the manipulatable members having magnetic portions which attract the magnetic portions of said playing pieces, whereby one actual player of the game may move a chosen one of said first team of playing pieces by positioning and moving a manipulatable member over said cover on top of said chosen playing piece and another player may move a chosen one of said second team of playing pieces by positioning and moving a manipulatable member beneath said elevated playing surface below said chosen one of said second team of playing pieces in an attempt to engage and propel said object into the opposing players goal; and

means forming a simulated penalty box adjacent said playing area within which at least one of said playing pieces may be positioned, said penalty box including means for selectively propelling a playing piece therefrom back onto said playing area.

2. The game of claim 1 wherein at least one of said playing pieces has magnetic portions on the top and bottom thereof representing a referee or the like which may be moved by either player of the game.

3. The game of claim 1 including a timer mounted on said base structure adjacent said playing area for timing a penalty period of a playing piece in the penalty box.

4. The game of claim 1 including side wall means bounding said playing area between said cover and said playing surface and wherein said playing pieces are vertically orientated cylindrical members, said base structure including at least one inwardly protruding cam member formed on said side wall means against which said puck may be brought into engagement to facilitate propelling the puck off said side wall means as it is moved therealong by a playing piece.

5. The game of claim 1 including means defining at least one face-off" circle on said playing surface.

6. The game of claim 1 including means defining a score counter adjacent said playing surface.

7. The game of claim 1 wherein said manipulatable members comprise finger rings having magnetic portions thereon.

8. The game of claim 1 wherein said elevated playing surface is fabricated of translucent material simulating the ice of an actual hockey rink.

9. A magnetic game comprising, in combination:

a base structure defining an elevated playing surface simulating a hockey field;

a pair of opposed goals mounted on the playing surface;

means defining a transparent cover disposed in spaced relationship above said playing surface permitting visual observation of the playing surface through the cover;

an object receivable in said goals disposed for free movement between said cover and said playing surface;

a plurality of playing pieces representing simulated hockey players disposed for movement over said playing surface between said playing surface and said cover, at least some of said playing pieces having magnetic portions on at least the tops thereof and at least some of the playing pieces having magnetic portions on at least the bottoms thereof, said playing pieces capable of engaging said object;

at least one manipulatable member for each player of the game for positioning beneath said playing surface for movement thereunder and above said cover for movement thereover, each manipulatable member having a magnetic portion which attracts the magnetic portions of said playing pieces to move a chosen one of said playing pieces over said playing surface, whereby players of the game may attempt to move the object toward one of the goals by moving the playing pieces into engagement with the object; and

means forming a simulated penalty box disposed on the base structure adjacent said playing surface wherein at least one of said playing pieces may be positioned, said penalty box including means for selectively propelling a playing piece therefrom back onto said playing surface.

10. The game of claim 9 wherein at least some of said playing pieces represent opposed teams of simulated players, with the playing pieces having magnetic portions on the tops thereof representing one team and the playing pieces having magnetic portions on the bottoms thereof representing another team.

11. The game of claim 10 wherein at least one of said playing pieces has magnetic portions on the top and bottom thereof representing a referee or the like.

12. The game of claim 9 including a timer mounted on said base structure adjacent said playing area for timing a penalty period of a playing piece in the penalty box.

13. The game of claim 9 including side wall means bounding said playing area between said cover and said playing surface, with at least one aperture formed in said side wall means through which said object may be propelled to provide means to simulate a hockey player flipping a puck out of a rink or freezing a puck against the boards.

14. The game of claim 9 including side wall means bounding said playing area between said cover and said playing surface and wherein said playing pieces are vertically oriented cylindrical members and said object is a disc shaped member simulating a hockey puck, and including at least one inwardly protruding cam member formed on said side wall means against which said object may be brought into engagement to facilitate propelling the object off of said side wall means as it is moved therealong by a playing piece.

15. The game of claim 9 including means defining at least one face-off circle on said playing surface.

16. The game of claim 9 including means defining a score counter adjacent said playing surface.

17. The game of claim 9 wherein said manipulatable members comprise finger rings having magnetic portions thereon.

18. A simulated hockey game comprising:

a playing surface defining a simulated hockey field bounded by wall means;

a plurality of playing pieces defining hockey players disposed for movement over the playing surface; means defining a simulated penalty box adjacent said playing surface;

means for selectively propelling a playing piece positioned therein from the penalty box back onto said playing surface; and i means forming a simulated penalty box adjacent said playing area within which at least one of said playing pieces may be positioned, said penalty box including means for selectively propelling a playing piece therefrom back onto said playing area, and movable gate means for said penalty box forming a portion of said wall means when closed, said gate means being operatively connected to said propelling means.

19. In a magnetic hockey game including a box-like base structure having an elevated generally planar playing surface with a pair of opposing goals disposed thereon, an upstanding wall bounding said playing surface, and a transparent generally planar cover on top of said wall spaced from and overlying said playing surface generally parallel thereto, means defining a discshaped simulated hockey puck freely movable over said playing surface, a plurality of playing pieces disposed for movement transversely over said playing surface beneath said cover, the playing pieces representing first and second opposing teams of simulated players, each having magnetic portions, and a plurality of manipulatable members, at least one for each player of the game, having a magnetic portion which attracts the magnetic portions of the playing pieces, whereby the playing pieces may be moved by magnetic attraction in an attempt to engage and propel the puck into the opposing player's goal, the improvement comprising:

at least one playing piece representing a referee having a magnetic portion and movable in the same manner as the other playing pieces; and at least one barrier shield mounted on said playing surface for normally receiving said referee, said shield preventing movement of said referee in some but not all directions, whereby said referee can be moved out of said shield by the movement of a manipulatable members magnetic portion in close proximity to the magnetic portion on said referee in a certain direction signifying thereby the commission of a penalty. 20. In a magnetic hockey type game including a boxlike base structure having an elevated generally planar playing surface with a pair of opposing goals disposed thereon, an upstanding wall bounding said playing surface, and a transparent generally planar cover on top of said wall spaced from and overlying said playing surface generally parallel thereto, means defining a discshaped simulated hockey puck freely movable over said playing surface, a plurality of playing pieces disposed for movement transversely over said playing surface beneath said cover, the playing pieces representing first and second opposing teams of simulated players, each having magnetic portions, and a plurality of manipulatable members, at least one for each player of the game, having a magnetic portion which attracts the magnetic'portions of the playing pieces, whereby the playing pieces may be moved by magnetic attraction in an attempt to engage and propel the puck into the opposing players goal, the improvement comprising:

the playing pieces representing the first team having magnetic portions only at the top thereof adjacent the planar cover and movable by one player moving his manipulatable member above the planar cover;

the playing pieces representing the second team having magnetic portions only at the bottom thereof adjacent the playing surface and movable by another player moving his manipulatable member below the playing surface; and

at least one additional playing piece having a magnetic portion both at the top thereof adjacent the planar cover and at the bottom thereof adjacent the playing surface and movable by either players manipulatable member. 

1. A magnetic hockey type game comprising, in combination: a box-like base structure defining an elevated generally planar playing surface, wall means bounding said playing surface, and a transparent generally planar cover on top of said wall means spaced from and overlying said playing surface generally parallel thereto; means defining a pair of opposing goals on said playing surface; means defining a disc-shaped simulated hockey puck freely movable over said playing surface; a plurality of playing pieces disposed for movement transversely over said playing surface beneath said cover, the playing pieces representing first and second opposing teams of simulated players, the first team of playing pieces having magnetic portions on the tops thereof and the second team of playing pieces having magnetic portions on the bottoms thereof; a plurality of manipulatable members at least one for each actual player of the game, the manipulatable members having magnetic portions which attract the magnetic portions of said playing pieces, whereby one actual player of the game may move a chosen one of said first team of playing pieces by positioning and moving a manipulatable member over said cover on top of said chosen playing piece and another player may move a chosen one of said second team of playing pieces by positioning and moving a manipulatable member beneath said elevated playing surface below said chosen one of said second team of playing pieces in an attempt to engage and propel said object into the opposing player''s goal; and means forming a simulated penalty box adjacent said playing area within which at least one of said playing pieces may be positioned, said penalty box including means for selectively propelling a playing piece therefrom back onto said playing area.
 2. The game of claim 1 wherein at least one of said playing pieces has magnetic portions on the top and bottom thereof representing a referee or the like which may be moved by either player of the game.
 3. The game of claim 1 including a timer mounted on said base structure adjacent said playing area for timing a penalty period of a playing piece in the penalty box.
 4. The game of claim 1 including side wall means bounding said playing area between said cover and said playing surface and wherein said playing pieces are vertically orientated cylindrical members, said base structure including at least one inwardly protruding cam member formed on said side wall means against which said puck may be brought into engagement to facilitate propelling the puck off said side wall means as it is moved therealong by a playing piece.
 5. The game of claim 1 including means defining at least one ''''face-off'''' circle on said playing surface.
 6. The game of claim 1 including means defining a score counter adjacent said playing surface.
 7. The game of claim 1 wherein said manipulatable members comprise finger rings having magnetic portions thereon.
 8. The game of claim 1 wherein said elevated playing surface is fabricated of translucent material simulating the ice of an actual hockey rink.
 9. A magnetic game comprising, in combination: a base structure defining an elevated playing surface simulating a hockey field; a pair of opposed goals mounted on the playing surface; means defining a transparent cover disposed in spaced relationship above said playing surface permitting visual observation of the playing surface through the cover; an object receivable in said goals disposed for free movement between said cover and said playing surface; a plurality of playing pieces representing simulated hockey players disposed for movement over said playing surface between said playing surface and said cover, at least some of said playing pieces having magnetic portions on at least the tops thereof and at least some of the playing pieces having magnetic portions on at least the bottoms thereof, said playing pieces capable of engaging said object; at least one manipulatable member for each player of the game for positioning beneath said playing surface for movement thereunder and above said cover for movement thereover, each manipulatable member having a magnetic portion which attracts the magnetic portions of said playing pieces to move a chosen one of said playing pieces over said playing surface, whereby players of the game may attempt to move the object toward one of the goals by moving the playing pieces into engagement with the object; and means forming a simulated penalty box disposed on the base structure adjacent said playing surface wherein at least one of said playing pieces may be positioned, said penalty box including means for selectively propelling a playing piece therefrom back onto said playing surface.
 10. The game of claim 9 wherein at least some of said playing pieces represent opposed teams of simulated players, with the playing pieces having magnetic portions on the tops thereof representing one team and the playing pieces having magnetic portions on the bottoms thereof representing another team.
 11. The game of claim 10 wherein at least one of said playing pieces has magnetic portions on the top and bottom thereof representing a referee or the like.
 12. The game of claim 9 including a timer mounted on said base structure adjacent said playing area for timing a penalty period of a playing piece in the penalty box.
 13. The game of claim 9 including side wall means bounding said playing area between said cover and said playing surface, with at least one aperture formed in said side wall means through which said object may be propelled to provide means to simulate a hockey player flipping a puck out of a rink or ''''freezing a puck against the boards.''''
 14. The game of claim 9 including side wall means bounding said playing area between said cover and said playing surface and wherein said playing pIeces are vertically oriented cylindrical members and said object is a disc shaped member simulating a hockey puck, and including at least one inwardly protruding cam member formed on said side wall means against which said object may be brought into engagement to facilitate propelling the object off of said side wall means as it is moved therealong by a playing piece.
 15. The game of claim 9 including means defining at least one ''''face-off'''' circle on said playing surface.
 16. The game of claim 9 including means defining a score counter adjacent said playing surface.
 17. The game of claim 9 wherein said manipulatable members comprise finger rings having magnetic portions thereon.
 18. A simulated hockey game comprising: a playing surface defining a simulated hockey field bounded by wall means; a plurality of playing pieces defining hockey players disposed for movement over the playing surface; means defining a simulated penalty box adjacent said playing surface; means for selectively propelling a playing piece positioned therein from the penalty box back onto said playing surface; and means forming a simulated penalty box adjacent said playing area within which at least one of said playing pieces may be positioned, said penalty box including means for selectively propelling a playing piece therefrom back onto said playing area, and movable gate means for said penalty box forming a portion of said wall means when closed, said gate means being operatively connected to said propelling means.
 19. In a magnetic hockey game including a box-like base structure having an elevated generally planar playing surface with a pair of opposing goals disposed thereon, an upstanding wall bounding said playing surface, and a transparent generally planar cover on top of said wall spaced from and overlying said playing surface generally parallel thereto, means defining a disc-shaped simulated hockey puck freely movable over said playing surface, a plurality of playing pieces disposed for movement transversely over said playing surface beneath said cover, the playing pieces representing first and second opposing teams of simulated players, each having magnetic portions, and a plurality of manipulatable members, at least one for each player of the game, having a magnetic portion which attracts the magnetic portions of the playing pieces, whereby the playing pieces may be moved by magnetic attraction in an attempt to engage and propel the puck into the opposing player''s goal, the improvement comprising: at least one playing piece representing a referee having a magnetic portion and movable in the same manner as the other playing pieces; and at least one barrier shield mounted on said playing surface for normally receiving said referee, said shield preventing movement of said referee in some but not all directions, whereby said referee can be moved out of said shield by the movement of a manipulatable member''s magnetic portion in close proximity to the magnetic portion on said referee in a certain direction signifying thereby the commission of a penalty.
 20. In a magnetic hockey type game including a box-like base structure having an elevated generally planar playing surface with a pair of opposing goals disposed thereon, an upstanding wall bounding said playing surface, and a transparent generally planar cover on top of said wall spaced from and overlying said playing surface generally parallel thereto, means defining a disc-shaped simulated hockey puck freely movable over said playing surface, a plurality of playing pieces disposed for movement transversely over said playing surface beneath said cover, the playing pieces representing first and second opposing teams of simulated players, each having magnetic portions, and a plurality of manipulatable members, at least one for each player of the game, having a magnetic portion which attracts the magnetic portions of the playing pieces, whereby the playing pieces may be moved by magnetic Attraction in an attempt to engage and propel the puck into the opposing player''s goal, the improvement comprising: the playing pieces representing the first team having magnetic portions only at the top thereof adjacent the planar cover and movable by one player moving his manipulatable member above the planar cover; the playing pieces representing the second team having magnetic portions only at the bottom thereof adjacent the playing surface and movable by another player moving his manipulatable member below the playing surface; and at least one additional playing piece having a magnetic portion both at the top thereof adjacent the planar cover and at the bottom thereof adjacent the playing surface and movable by either player''s manipulatable member. 